44 Carbine Serial Number Discrepancy

[Piranha451]

I own a Ruger Deerstalker Carbine (SN 20xx). The Database places it squarely in 1962 as the beginning SN for that year is shown as 1339. However, the letter I received from Ruger states it was mfg'd and shipped in November of 1961. I understand the database is not 100% accurate, but there is approximately a difference of 660 SNs between what the site shows as the first SN for 1962 and my rifle. I tried calling the records dept, but they are not accepting calls. Could it be possible for that large of a number of rifles to have been mfg'd and shipped that far out of sequence?

 

[hittman]

What "Database"?

Regardless, lotsa stuff wasn't made in a particular order or shipping in numerical order.

RENE says:
1961: s/n 1 to 1338
1962: s/n 1339 to 8129 and 50000 to 65060

 

[Piranha451]

Thank you, hittman. I was referring to the Ruger Serial number database/chart on their site. I was expecting the letter to show the rifle was mfg'd in 1962 and was taken by surprise that it showed 1961.

 

[RC44Mag]

I could be mistaken but I've heard that '61 was stamped Deerstalker and 62's and beyond carbine. Either way you have a special Ruger there. Mines a '66 and I'm happy as a clam to own it.

 

[chet15]

660 serial numbers off for a given year is not bad at all, and is probably as close as most will get.
After all, they shipped quite a few two and three digit Security-Sixes in 2005... 30+ years after they were made.
I know of a .44 flattop that shipped in 1974 when it should have left in 1958, also a Hawkeye in .256 that shipped in 1974.
We have a Super Bearcat that shipped in 1981 and there is at least one other Super Bearcat I know of that was shipped later than that.
Chet15

 

[hittman]

I have a "D" serial GP100 shipped 12 years after the original.